Oregon wind farms get a cool breeze of stimulus money

Eastern Oregon farms will share $140 million from first round of funding

The Portland Tribune, Sep 1, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Courtesy of Iberdrola Renewables

The Klondike Wind Farm in Oregon’s Sherman County is one of several wind farms in Eastern and Central Oregon. Three wind farms will get $140 million from federal stimulus funds through the U.S. Treasury Department.

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Three Oregon wind power facilities will share about $140 million of $502 million in federal stimulus money distributed Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The U.S. Treasury Department provided $502.63 million to a dozen clean energy projects across the nation in the first round of funding. The projects include $47.7 million to the Wheat Field Wind Farm near Arlington, $47.1 million to Hay Canyon Wind Farm near Moro and $46.5 million to the Pebble Springs Wind Farm also near Arlington.

Oregon’s two U.S. senators praised the funding and said the money would help the state be a leader in the “green” energy industry.

“This country cannot break free from fossil fuels or our reliance on foreign oil without investing in clean alternatives,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, a Portland Democrat and Oregon’s senior senator. “The money released today will help keep Oregon at the forefront of wind technology. It will create jobs immediately and continue laying the foundation for an industry that will play a major role in energy production for decades to come.”

“These funds will help make Oregon a national leader in producing wind energy and will provide a stable living over the long haul for rural Oregonians with new jobs and new revenue for farmers and counties,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, also a Portland Democrat.

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